Slide trombone



Sept. 27, 1932. p. F PETERSEN 1,879,461

SLIDE TROMBONE Filed Dec. 11, v19151 2 Sheets-Sheet l "1 v5 D w 1 N 1 d u v1 `l\ Invenlor fer Z-'Peznzersen/ M E @MMM llorney Sept. 27, 1932. P. F. PETERS.

SLIDE TROMBONE Filed Dec.

ll, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenlor Feier Patented Sept. 27, 1932 PIETER F. PETER/SEN, F CARBONDALE, OKLAHOMA SLIDE TROMBONE y Application ma December 11, 1931. serial'. No. 580,429.

This invention relates to a musical instrument of the wind family and it has more specific reference to an improved and structurally refined. slide trombone.

In developing and carrying the inventive conception into actual practice I have evolved and reduced a novel slide trombone ofstructura characterization by the incorporation therein of readily recognizable lo features and advantageous results calculated to better fulfill the requirements of an instrument of this class.

The instrument constituting the novelty n ofv this invention relies for distinctiveness upon the refined construction and arrangement of the reciprocatory slide and the relatively fixed carrier for said slide due to the specific formation of the tone Wavepas'sage or conduct.

It is generally contended that in order to produce a proper intonation and attendant uniformv sound waves, the bore through which the air column travels should be progressively tapering in form. This is, however, not a basically new idea in the constructhat the aforesaid tapered bore idea is com- 36 prehended ina number of prior patents with which I am familiar. The particular construction of these patents, however, produces undesirable tone fluctuations due to the fact that the tone waves are impeded and not gradually transformed into the requisite eflluent value and character. It follows therefore, that the fundamental knovelty of the present improvement is found in a strucl, ture calculated to overcome these objections,

4C" to enhance tone quality, and to permit the player to perform with greater precision and ease.

The explicit structural details utilized to accomplish the aforesaid result will become more apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the 4 improved slide 'trombone as developed in accordance with the present invention.

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Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the relatively fixed slide'carrier unit. y n Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the elongated U-shaped slide.

y Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation Il showing the cooperative features of the carrier and slide respectively.

Fig. 5 is a detailv sectional view illustrating the terminal end construction of one of the tubes or legs of ksaid carrier.

Fig. 6 is an'endview of Fig. 7 observing the same in a direction from left to right.

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the slide sustaining and guide collar.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view of the details observed in Fig. 7, illustrating the lubricating features.

As seen in Fig. 1,` the trombone is composed essentially of three independent units, the unit 9 including the conventional bell 10 and the properly proportioned tapered branch 11. This return branch 11 is fitted telescopically and removably on the coupler l2 of the unit 13. This unit 13 may be designated as a slide carrier and in playing position it is a relatively fixed or stationary part. The remaining section or unit is denoted by the numeral 14 and this is the reciprocatory elongated U-shaped slide.

In Fig. 2 the section 13 is provided at its inner end with a mouth piece coupling 15 carrying the removable mouth piece 16 and the parts 12 and 15 are joined together by an improved H-shaped brace 17. The spaced parallel longitudinally disposed tubes 18 and 19 respectively are sometimes referred to as legs. At the inner ends of these are customary abutment cups 20 which limit the inward movement of the slide 14e.` On the free end of the tubes 18 and 19 are sleeves 21 sometimes referred to as stockings and these are kprimarily spacing elements designed to space the companion portions of the slide from the carrier to minimize friction, and as seen in Fig. 5, the outer ends of the sleeves are decreased in dimension and the terminals of the tubes 18 and 19 are flared as indicated at 22 to avoid the presence of air blocking shoulders at these points. This feature 22 is important in that it'facilitates unobstructed u peded regardless ot' the position the movable slide may be placed in.

The slide 1e comprises tubes 18a and 19a which lit telescopically over the sleeves 21 and their associated tubes 18 and 19. At the inner` ends o"- the tubes 18a and 19a is a cross brace Q2 cor tituting a hand grip. At the opposite end is a tapered gooseneclr connection 23 joining said tubes together in proper i inuity this being provided With a drain K 'ie #for obvious purposes. Thus the tubes of the carrier and slide correspond in relative proportions and properlymatched i l fonship to define the extensible bore or passage for the air column.

To avoid canting and binding of the slide carrier 13 I provide a special fixture which has the additional function of lubrieating means. This fixture is in the nature of a sectional collar and is generally denoted by the numeral Q see Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive). The halt sections 26 and 27 of the collar are hingedly connected together as at 28 and detachably secured together at their opposite nds by an appropriate fastener 29. Thus,

this collar is clamped around the inner end ot the tube 18a and in order to accomplish the result desired, the sections 26 and 27 are provided with inturned shoes 30 and 31 conforming' in shape to the contacting surfaces ot the eomplemental tubes 18. Under this arrangement, the device constitutes a guide and maintenance means so as to permit the slide to be projected and retracted in exact alinement with the tubes 18 thereby overundesirable tilting and binding.

Under this arrangement, friction is reduced to a minimum and in furthering this principle it .vill be observed in Fig. 8 that the upper section 2G or" the collar is cored to provide a container 32 for lubricant, said container having a suitable iller cap 33. Moreover tie shoe is provided With a passage conta ning an absorbent Wick 34 in Wiping Contact with the tube 18.

Under t ie principle ot capillary attraction the tube 18 is constantly lubricated as the slide is moved back and forth.

It is ob. erved that I do not predicate novelty on a continuous taper but rather on a bore dereloped by the properly proportioned spacedparallel tubes 18 and 19 and the correspendmgly proportioned companion tubes 1805 and 19a of the slide. I find that my mov- `able slide maintains the desired ratio of a different caliber between the upper and lower tubes or legs of the slide and its carrier with the combined tubing of the movable slide from beginning to end, and at any point, regardless as to what position said movable slide may be moved to. With the tapered connect-or 23 I also maintain a fixed diameter at a fixed place in said curve at all times regardless ot the position of the slide. This, it is believed, provides a passage which is scientifically and mechanically correct and therefore practicable for production of proper intonations.

The specific construction of the tubing of the. slide and its carrier together with the special H-shaped brace in the carrier, and the lubricating guideand maintenance device constitute the gist of the inventive conception.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail merely for the purpose of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It is to be understood that; by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure, or arrangement it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I cla-im as new is 1. A slide trombone comprising a relatively stationary slide carrier unit including a pair of spaced parallel tubes and each tube being of uniform diameter from end to end and one tube of a diameter smaller than the remaining tube, and a complemental'reciprocatory slide embodying spaced parallel tubes itting exteriorly and telescopically over the tubes of said carrier, said slide tubes being uniform in diameter from end to end and of diameters corresponding to their respective companion tubes on said carrier, and a tapered goose-neck connection between the outer ends of the tubes of said slide.

2. A slide trombone comprising a relatively stationary slide carrier unit including a pair of spaced parallel tubes and each tube being of uniform diameter from end to end and one tube of a diameter smaller than the remaining tubes, a complemental reciprocatory slide embodying spaced parallel tubes fitting telescopically over the tubes of said carrier, said slide tubes being uniform in diameter from end to end and of diameters corresponding to their respective companion tubes on said carrier, a tapered goose-neck connection between the outer end of the tubes of said slides, the terminal ends of the tubes ot' said carrier being provided with spacer sleeves to space the tubes of the slide and carrier from each other to minimize friction.

3. A slide trombone comprising a relatively stationary slide carrier unit including a plir of spaced parallel tubes and each tube ing of uniform diameter from end to end and one tube of a diameter smallervthan the remaining tube, a complemental reciprocatory slide embodying spaced parallel tubes fitting telescopically over the tubes of said carrier, said slide tubes being uniform in diameter from end to end and of diameters corresponding to their respective companion tubes on said carrier, a tapered goose-neck connection between the outer end of the tubes of said slide, the terminal ends of the tubes of said carrier being provided with spacer sleeves to space the tubes of the slide and carrier from each other to minimize friction, and the terminal ends of the tubes of said carrier being flared outwardly and merging into feather-like edges to avoid the presence of air pocketing shoulders in the air passage defined by said tubes.

4. In a slide trombone of the class described, a relatively stationary slide carrier unit embodying a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally disposed fixed tubes, said tubes being substantially uniform in diameter from end to end and having spacer sleeves on their outer end portions, the upper tube being of a diameter less than the lower tube, a. reciprocatory elongated U-shaped slide including tubes substantially uniform in diameter from end to end, the first-named tubes fitting telescopically into the slide tubes and spaced therefrom by the presence of said sleeves, the tubes of said slide being properly proportioned in diameter to correspond with the tubes of the carrier unit, and a tapered elbow connection between the tubes of said slide.

5. In a. slide trombone of the class described, a relatively stationary slide carrier unit, embodying a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally disposed fixed tubes, said tubes being substantially uniform in diameter from end to end and having spacer sleeves on their outer end portions, the upper tube being of a diameter less than the diameter than the lower tube, a reciprocatory elongated U-shaped slide including tubes substantiallyk uniform in diameter from end to end, the first-named tubes fitting telescopically into the slide tubes and spaced therefrom by the presence of said sleeves, the tubes of said slides being properly proportioned in diameter to correspond with the tubes of the carrier unit, a tapered elbow connection between the tubes of said slide, and a guide and retention device carried by the inner end of one of the tubes of said slide having portions in sliding contact with the adjacent tube of the carrier to prevent said slide from canting and binding in the manner described.

6. In a slide trombone construction of the class described, a relatively stationary slide carrier comprising a mouth pipe constructed to accommodate detachable mouthpiece, a tapered nipple equipped coupler, an H- shaped brace connecting said coupler and mouth ipe together, spaced parallel tubes carried y said coupler and mouth pipe respectively, said tubes being substantially uniform in diameter from end to end with the exception of their terminals which are flared,

kspaced sleeves on said terminal ends, the

a split collar attached to the inner end of one of the slide tubes, the sections of said collar being formed with inturned shoes providing contact with the adjacent carrier tubes.

7. In a slide trombone construction of the class described,'a relatively stationary slide carrier comprising a mouth piece constructed to accommodate detachable mouth piece, a tapered nipple equipped coupler, an H- shaped brace connecting said coupler and mouth pipe together, spaced parallel tubes carried by said coupler and mouth pipe respectively, said tubes being substantially uniform in diameter from end to end with the exception of their terminals which are flared, spaced sleeves on said terminal ends, the upper tube being of a diameter less than the lower tubes, an elongated U-shaped slide including spaced parallel tubes telescopically receiving the first-named tubes, the tubes on said slides being mounted for sliding on said spacer sleeves and having diameters corre- 10 

